INVESTING IN COMMUNITY HEALTH

A 2009 report found that an investment of $10 per person per year in evidencebased community prevention programs could save the country more than $16
billion annually within 5 years. The Y offers community-based programs that not
only help reduce health care costs, but provides millions of children, adults and
families the support, guidance and resources need to achieve greater health and
well-being.

Contact:
Katie Adamson
Senior Director, Health
Partnerships and Policy
202-835-9043
Katie.adamson@ymca.net

Advancing Programs to Save Lives and Dollars

Support for the Bi-Partisan Medicare Diabetes Prevention Act (MDPA)
would give at-risk seniors access to live-saving, community-based diabetes
programs, like the YMCAs Diabetes Prevention Program, while potentially
saving the U.S. $1.3 billion over a decade.12 The program helps adults at
high risk of developing type 2 diabetes reduce their risk of developing the
disease. NIH research has shown that programs like the Ys can reduce the
number of new cases of type 2 diabetes by 71% in adults over 60. In the past 4
years, over 27,000 participants in 42 states have participated in the
program through the Y.

In the US, 1 in 2 of all

older adults (ages 65+)
have prediabetes.

CDCs National Diabetes Prevention Program supports a national network

of recognized community-based diabetes prevention programs and additional
resources enable the program to spread to many more communities.

Helping Adults with Chronic Diseases Reclaim Their Health

The Y is working to ensure adults are able to live their fullest lives by offering
programs that teach participants how to manage and cope with disease:

EnhanceFitness is a CDC-supported arthritis self-management program.

Compared to non-participants, participants save $945 in yearly
health care costs.3 Since 2013, over 5,700 adults in 23 states have
participated in the program.

Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance is an evidence-based falls prevention

program for older adults. Evidence-based programs can prevent 35 to 55
percent of older adult falls. As of May 2014, 73 Ys are offering the program.

LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is a community where cancer survivors can

improve their physical fitness, reduce the severity of therapy side effects,
develop supportive relationships and improve their quality of life. Since
2007, more than 27,000 survivors in 37 states have been served.

52.5 million adults

have arthritis its the
nations most common
cause of disability.

In the US, 1 in 3 older

adults will fall.

In 2014, there were 14.5

million cancer
survivors in the US.

A 2013 conservative CBO-like estimate by Avalere reported that the nation could save $1.3 billion over a decade in
Medicare by passing the MDPA.
2
A 2010 study by UnitedHealth found that if all individuals, regardless of Medicare enrollment, with prediabetes
enrolled in the Diabetes Prevention Program, the country would save $105 billion.
3
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2013). Report to Congress: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services evaluation of community-based wellness and prevention programs under section 4202 (b) of the Affordable
Care Act. Washington: Government Printing Office.

Updated February 2015

Building Healthier Communities

Since 2004, Ys have received funding from CDC, Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation, or Sams Club to
develop community-wide
initiatives in 247 communities
and 20 states that transform
places and spaces to make them
healthier. Local leaders have
influenced over 39,000 changes,
including more than 1,200 new healthy food options (farmers markets, mobile
stands and healthy corner stores); new sidewalks so kids can walk to school
safely; and increased physical activity during the school day. These changes
are impacting up to 73 million lives. Continued federal funding for initiatives
that support this work, such as Partnership to Improve Community Health
(PICH) and Racial and Ethnic Approach to Community Health (REACH) programs
ensure that communities are able to continue this important work.

Participating sites
bring in $3.47 for
every $1 in funding
received.

Nourishing Our Children All Year Long

Nothing is more fundamental to a childs opportunity to learn, grown and thrive
than consistent access to healthy meals. Unfortunately, more than 16 million
children live in households that struggle to put food on the table. In partnership
with Walmart, Y-USA is working to increase local Y participation in the USDAs
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) for afterschool meals and Summer
Food Service Program (SFSP) for summer meals. In 2014, Ys at over 2,400
sites provided 13 million meals to over 391,000 children and youth. With
continued investment in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), Ys can strengthen communities by
providing healthy snacks and meals to hungry children; helping parents stretch
critical food dollars; and ensuring the healthy development of children.

Over 1 in 5 children in
the US live in households
that struggle against
hunger.

Committed to be the Healthiest Child Care Provider

In 2011, YMCA of the USA made a public commitment to the Partnership for a
Healthier America to be the largest and healthiest nonprofit provider of early
childhood and afterschool programs. To accomplish this, the Y has created
healthy eating and physical activity (HEPA) standards for early childhood and
afterschool programs. The commitment seeks to have 85 percent of Y
associations adopt and implement the standards by the end of 2015. In
addition to supporting Ys in adopting the standards, Y-USA has also led in
advocating for nationwide changes in early childcare and afterschool settings,
including through federal programs like the Child Care and Development Block
Grant.

Multiple organizations,
including the CDC and
WHO, recommend that
all children between
ages 5-17 should be
physically active for
least of 60 min every
day.